The Birth of Perma Ceram of Pittsburgh

In early 1970, Eugene Brannon and his son attended an "Own Your Own Business" show, and after due diligence he realized the potential in restoring bathrooms and purchased a Perma Ceram dealership.

He kept his day job and refinished bathtubs, tile, and sinks in the evening and on weekends for several years. His son (11 years old at the time), Gene Jr., carried his equipment and also learned the business from the ground up.

Business exploded and Eugene Brannon found it necessary to resign from his full time job and devote all his efforts into developing the Perma Ceram business in Western Pennsylvania.

In 1982, he signed an exclusive contract with Sears Roebuck to refinish bathtubs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. He, then, developed a dealer network in all three states and serviced over 100 stores. Sears realized that they could substantially reduce the high cost of bathroom remodeling by refinishing the bathtub rather than replacing it. The program was extremely successful for Perma Ceram and Sears.

It was during this period that Eugene realized the huge potential in the bathroom and remodeling market and opened his showroom in Wexford, PA.  As each of Eugene’s three children came of age, they joined him and his wife, Lorraine, in the family business.

Copperleaf Kitchen and Bath Emerges

In 1992, "Brannon Enterprises Inc." was born. Eugene’s wife, Lorraine, became President and Chief Bath Designer. Gene Jr. became Construction Manager, Patty was the Office Manager and Assistant Designer. Shawn became the Chief Refinisher and Manager.

In 1993, the Brannon family entered the kitchen market. They soon became well known for quality cabinetry and workmanship along with their excellent reputation in bathroom restoration and design.

In September 2002, they moved to a new office and showroom and their kitchen & bath business became known as Copperleaf Kitchen & Bath Design. Perma Ceram remains the name of the refinishing division. The company also does a substantial business in the sale and installation of ceramic, wood, laminate, and carpet.

I Servizi Design is Born

Enter, I Servizi Design, the brainchild of Patty Brannon. With all of her years in management and kitchen and bath design with Copperleaf, and her strong partnerships with interior designers and architects in Western Pa, Patty had a vision that she would soon turn into a reality.

Growth in urban development, upscale urban housing and mix-use development have been on the rise in the Pittsburgh area. A new type of “urban-chic” living was sprouting up all over the region and Patty began to see a market developing that was not being serviced. Her dream was to have a company that would not only provide contemporary residential and commercial design along with kitchen and bath, but one that would also provide the most unique products — items that normally would only be found in New York, LA, Chicago or Europe. Showers that tan you while you wash ……… tile that changes color based on temperature like a mood ring …….. staircases that appear to float in mid-air ……… and programmable LCD, multi-touch table tops and bar tops are only a few of the hip and exciting products offered at I Servizi Design in the Southside Works.

A strong family work ethic, exclusive design, superior kitchen and bath remodeling are all there at I Servizi – along with unique products that have the customer “stepping into the 22nd century”!

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